The Pittsburgh Pirates traded for New York Mets starter Jon Niese earlier in the week in a move that seemed to round off their rotation. However, on Saturday, the club went ahead and dealt one of their others starters to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Pittsburgh sent right-hander Charlie Morton to the Phillies in exchange for prospect pitcher David Whitehead. Both teams announced the deal Saturday morning.
While the trade may first come as a surprise, rumors earlier in the offseason suggested the Pirates could part ways with either Morton or fellow starter Jeff Locke due to their 2016 salaries. Locke is set to earn $3.5 million in arbitration next year, but it was clear Morton was the bigger financial burden as he's guaranteed $9 million through 2016. He has an $8 million salary for this upcoming season along with a $9.5 million team option (or $1 million buyout) for 2017.
Neither starter performed particularly well in 2015 and it was speculated the team would non-tender Locke or trade Morton. The 32-year-old Morton finished 9-9 with a 4.81 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 96 strikeouts in 23 starts (129 innings) last year in what was his worst season as a starter since 2010.
This frees up another spot in the rotation for Pittsburgh. However, the team signed reliever Juan Nicasio, who could perhaps become an option as a starter until prospects Tyler Glasnow or Jameson Taillon are ready to make their MLB debuts.
#Phillies have acquired RHP Charlie Morton from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for minor league RHP David Whitehead.
— Phillies (@Phillies) December 12, 2015
The #Pirates have acquired RHP David Whitehead from the #Phillies in exchange for pitcher Charlie Morton. pic.twitter.com/MTh86pJfrD
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) December 12, 2015
Morton joins Jeremy Hellickson as the only other veteran in the Phillies' rotation. They'll be amongst youngsters Aaron Nola, Adam Morgan, Jared Eickoff and Alec Asher.
On the other hand, Pittsburgh will get the 23-year-old Whitehead in the deal. The right-hander has spent two years in the minors with the Phillies and went 9-11 with a 4.44 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 94 strikeouts in 25 starts (135 2/3 innings) at High Class-A Clearwater in 2015. He was a 34th round pick in the 2013 MLB Draft.
